Ammonium bicarbonate in industrial applications can have toxic health effects, particularly when inhaled. However, food-grade ammonium bicarbonate contains ammonia in much smaller amounts. Ammonium bicarbonate has been approved by the FDA as a food additive and is considered of low risk to humans, however, research is unavailable on the safety of it as a food additive in humans and animals. Ammonia is a natural waste product made by your body from the metabolism of protein and is excreted in your urine. Without research on the safety of ammonium bicarbonate as a food additive, caution should be advised when consuming products containing it.